Under genoa alone

[yachtorion]

My Hurley 22 sails very well under genoa alone in a blow, well balanced, still fairly easy to tack. Makes to windward well.

 

[capnsensible]

I don't know why, but all our sailing in heavier weather seems to have been to windward.

Spent a significant portion of today sailing to Sotogrande and back, about 40 miles. As usual, quite a bit was upwind, gusty 6 and 7's. Wind of course backed when we got there to make it close reachy both ways. 3 reefs and a third headsail rolled up.....sometimes dont get why people say rolled headsails are rubbish....mines not!!!

Of course wind died near the end, last hourish in dark motoring.

Never mind, Africa tomorrow, ho ho.

 

[webcraft]

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Our Vega will point almost as close under genoa alone as under main and genoa.

- W

 

[LittleSister]

My mate sent me a clip he'd filmed in Devon recently, of a sloop that had come off her mooring without using her engine, tacked out of the river (with the ebb), and headed offshore without any apparent intention of raising the mainsail.

Well, if the tide was ebbing, and the wind blowing up the river (you said he'd tacked out) you would not want your main up to sail off the mooring. You also said it was windy, so it may be that in the confines of the river it was easier to continue to sea under genoa than wrestle the main up. Once at sea presumably heading along the coast, beam on to the wind. No reason to put up main by then?

To answer your original question - can be equal or better downwind with no main, OK across the wind, and can make a bit to windward but not as efficient and boat unbalanced without main.

PS Just remembered favouring genoa only in strong winds in the little 17 footer I used to have, if the wind direction suited, as the boat would be thrown about quite a bit in those conditions, and hanging onto the mast while getting the main up would roll the boat further.

 

[OGITD]

Last season (I can be a lazy sailor at times) we were sailing back down Loch Fyne just under Genoa (on a reach), when one of my Crew suggested hoisting the Main. But we were heeled between 12 & 15 degrees with no weather-helm (perfectly balanced) making 4.5 - 5.2kts through the water which is good for my little Voyager. So I explained that by hoisting the Main we would probably have to reduce the Genoa and as we were perfectly balanced there was no point.
But saying that ... one of my best sailing moments was on a Run from Lamlash under Main alone ..... & I made Troon in 3 & 1/4 hours (my personal record!) ..... we had a fantastic sail but others had issues with a 'shout' for the Troon Lifeboat (tad rough - bit breezy.)

 

[Contest1]

Glad Im, not alone in sailing my Centaur with the furling Genoa only on a regular basis.
Other than going fine to windward it performs well on all points.
I find she self steers in light airs with a shock cord holding against the genoa sheet looped twice round tiller and back to the winch going to windward.
Planning to try a snatch block arrangment to control the sheet lay this season for improved genoa reefing performance..